The galaxy is in flames once more, as war entered the Koprulu Sector.
Kerrigan unannounced attack have spread across all human factions in the Koprulu Sector.
Opportunist, scoundrels and miscreants reared their ugly heads.
Some think tanks guess the motive of the Zerg, while even fewer knew the actual goal from the queen of blades.
The news of her first attack to the Imperium had given the other factions time to prepare.
But what could mere rabbles could face the Unending horde of the Zerg?
Her armies and fleets were crippled by the Imperium, but they are still cornered beast. Beast that would take any advantage to be the winner.
Saved for the Dominion as Mengsk was hunting down Raynor as if it was his life goal.
Due to the narrow-mindedness of Acturus.
His fringe world were under attack by both the Zerg and Protoss. Undermanned and underfunded to chase Raynor shadows.
The zerg swarmed terran defenses and consumed the planets while the latter forced to halt their preparations to retake Aiur, sent their extermination fleets to destroy the Zerg infestation.
People of the Dominion being displaced by the billions, fleeing from their homes. Uncared by the government above as they flocked to other nations such as Umojans, Kel-Morian and the Imperium.
Militias and lost souls turned to piracy or mercenaries to earn a living. Plaguing the foundation of every nation under attack.
Black markets opened wide as prices skyrocketed to the point that the rich people have some semblance of normality. And the poor and middle class starved on the streets.
But the Imperium remained stable.
Despite they suffered the first assault, the Imperium undergone a sense of normality after a few weeks since Kerrigan assault on their capitol planet.
The subsectors and systems that is not affected by the Zerg rush towards Mars Sara, continue their production with limited alertness, despite the Necron pylon proven that it prevented the Zerg from doing coordinated attacks in the radius, doesn't mean saboteurs would be imbedded into the refugees that is flooding the imperial gates.
The Imperium welcome them with caution.
As the refugee planets is set up and the same offer was given to the refugee to be civilians to the Imperium.
They work the land for contribution to be part of a society that did have some form of caring to the people at large.
Subtly making the fringe colonies of the Dominion to join the Imperium.
The benefits were great.
Low taxes, a fleet to be called in in mere hours than weeks, investment into the infrastructure and job opportunities despite in a galaxy in flames. And all they had to is to swear fealty to the Aquila and converted to the Imperial Church.
And after having 50 years of service they would be formally called imperial holdings.
Seeing the Domion was silent... It was unnerving to the colonies that did joined sides with Acturus in the fall of the confederacy.
Especially Alexander whose Armada is being prepared, now going to invade Kel-Morian Combine.
During the fight, some pirates that were on the bankroll of the Kel-Morian miner clans, sneaked off some wreckage in the conflict and ran off. But they didn't realize that it was rugged with a tracker imbedded in the salvaged wrecked.
And the news of the Imperial declared war on the Kel-Morian Combine made a bigger splash to the galaxy at large.
They were the ones that helped the Dominion to be the way it is today, one of the major rebels that overthrow the confederacy and conquer old Earth, now massive fleets is heading towards the Kel-Morian Combine.
Many refugee fleet that wanted to go to the Kel-Morian decided that it would be wiser if they just go to the imperium... Having seen guns bigger than their ship is very persuasive than just telling them to sod off.
Many of the Kel-Morian guilds tried to demand question why is the invasion is necessary.
They were all joined the Anti-confederacy
All of their hailing is met with silence.
Until a transmission was sent.
"This is High Lord of the Celestial Imperium, Alexander Solair, While I was in Mars Sara, fighting with my men against the zerg, I have reports that your accomplices stolen our dead and sneak off the battlefield, and if you want to stop, hand me the pirates in your employment or I will personally eradicate your capitol planet Moria! You scum pilfer our dead and you pretend none the wiser!
We, the Imperium shall declare war on the Kel-Morian Combine in approximately a hour from now."
The guilds were in a uproar.
Now everyone began pointing fingers.
Because all of the guilds had some connections to the pirates for their dirty work. And now some morons decided to poke a very big bear.
And the said pirates that nicked the remains of the Imperium went missing, causing them in a panic. Since if they could hand over the Pirates, they would be safe.
A primitive mindset to preserve their lives...
Cutting off the tail to escape. But Alexander didn't want to let them go, he already knew the pirates location and had Assasinorum cults to handle the lots.
Giving them no out.
Because one thing he didn't tolerate since he was a human... Was pirates scum.
If he let them go, what happened if the rest of the galaxy suffered for the benefits of today?
The Kel-Morian would be burn to the ground and the Aquila be planted on the very planet that think they are superior....
To those that view him, he is beginning to become the visage of the Imperium of 30k...
Alexander knew this... How long will the shard of the Emperor would fully consumed him and be another copy? The only time he truly felt free... Was in the battlefield.
Most of his actions is more dictated like a puppet on strings, playing his part on a stage, catering to the faceless audience that is empty in both morality and ego?
As they tried to formulate solutions, they witness firsthand, why the Zerg launched the attack against the Imperium first place.
(Mining Outpost on the borders of Kel-Morian space.)
It was one of many planet rich in minerals resources. And now being mined by the Kel-Morians.
It was a normal mining operations. Miners clock in and did the drilling while the overseers just watched from their offices as they watched the quotas for the next monthly production.
They were unaware of the fact the Imperium declared war upon them.
As the higher ups hidden the information to not induced a panic.
Their automated defenses were destroyed in quick succession, by the time the alarm was sounded, hundreds of assault pods landed and rammed into the outpost periphery.
The drop pod unleash automated turrets that provided support fire as they unloaded giant monsters of men that rushed out and shot the defenders in quick succession.
The defenders didn't know how they died as each of the invader bullets turned their power armor into their coffins, piercing their bodies despite they have power armor, the shells blow up and rendering their organs apart, some of the lucky few just saw what these men attack them...
Unified in armor, eyes glared with red and their mouth were like screaming.
It took several minutes, till the alarm was heard across this outpost.
And the defenders realized that it was too late to even mount a counterattack.
The important infrastructure such as the power source and the armory was occupied by the invaders.
Calls of help fell on deaf ears as the communication went silent.
These... Unknown attackers already is within the facility and now purging anyone that have a gun in their hands. Bullets ricochet from their armor as these walking tanks strode forward with such speed, some wonder if they were demons than men that they are fighting... Though it was partially half true... In the former part.
One of the miners tried to dragged these invaders, with a nuclear bomb embedded in his stomach as part of subservience.
Only had their neck snapped and lobbed at the defenders location as the corpse exploded, killing everyone.
The miners were corral into a location, these giant men rushed past like the wind, these workers barely understand what is going on.
"Surrender or die like the rest." One of the briskly spoke as he pointed to a splat of blood on the wall next to them and beside it was a Exoskeleton SCV that was blasted apart. One of their own tired to fight and got what he didn't expect.
Cold, uncaring and quick.
The miners felt fear... Something in their bodies instinctively understood.
A primal emotion that was imprinted from the beginning of time welled up.
These men are monsters in human skin.
As the miners were excited out of the facility.
They saw a vast fleet covered the skies.
And a base nearby was set up in mere minutes... And a giant robot whose giant barrel of a gun aimed at the mining facility if the assault failed.
Many of them looked at each other.
Just shrugged.
They are under contract by the Kel-Morians it was not their war to fight anyway...
The highest peak of the facility one of these armored behemoths planted the flag of the Aquila.
"You can't be serious, that much!?" The leader of the miners that survive the invasion spoke as he looked at the negotiating table.
The contract before the group, laid bare.
They are paid in thrones and get back to work.
And it was triple of what they were paid.
The one that gave them the contract was a Woman in a secretary suit that was guarded by these two giant monsters. Deterring any thoughts of the men in the room.
They saw how fast these monsters can dealt with the guards in power armor, but normal guys like them? Even quicker.
"Of course, the High Lord have no hatred to the people like you, only the Guild leaders that started the war... But we lacked experienced miners such as yourselves.
We already compiled the payment of your "former" employment for a year in advance and if you want to leave, we would not stop you... But if you stayed... Then we can start the operations and the payment next month."
"Boss... There is even Hazard pay, overtime and healthcare insurance, we have choice to chose three shifts... The Kel-Morians didn't even give us those..."
"Shit, they killed poor Kenny...why should we forget what they done to him?"
"He wanted to be a hero and looked where it gotten him? Splattered on the wall." Another hushed.
"They are stingy, they docked my pay last three months for retrenching... Ah fuck... Excuse me miss, is the contract a lie?" One gathered his bravery and spoke.
"It was handwritten by the High Lord himself, his word have more weight than gold. He brings prosperity to those that follow him, and bring ruined those that defy him." She smiled.
Many felt hesitation... But one stepped out.
"Alright then, shall I sign?
Later they were informed and sent to work tomorrow. As their new employers assess the damage to the facility before starting work.
Some of them took the money and left, but
Most of them remained.
There was nothing left for them to go to.
They were too old to get another job, some of them barely know how to read or had highschool diplomas.
They ventured to the mines, this time it was different, instead of the gruff Jeff that guarded the entrance to the mines often looked down on them, it was A Guardsman called Steve that joked about and informed them they had pretzels in the relaxation room.
These workers noticed something was wrong...
Very wrong.
These miner instinctively knew the depths of the minerals nodes as they worked for many years. And what was supposed to be drained of resources, now replenished.
One of the miners picked up a ore.
"Damm... This is pure.. not a sign of impurity..."
"Well, they stated the quota by the end of the day, I reckon we can exceed it..."
"They paid extra for the exceeded loads.. well, let's get to work then."
"Look at the bright side... We got better tools to mine anyway."
They done their shift and scent of food wafted from the cafeteria.
"Shit, real food! Damm real food?!"
"Hell... Meatball Friday... The menus is crazy."
One of the cooks that were recruited spoke.
"Wash your hands, you done the shift for today."
It was a long time they had the scent of meat.. since all this time the Kel-Morian were cost-cutting everything. All they had was nutrient bars and the mystery paste...
Hell even the water is rationed and most of it is recycled piss.
Some of the miners wonder if they were just prisoners of a contract or joined a better employer...
Another day, they found their work was undone and the mineral were recovered...
It was one of many mining facility of the Kel-Morians that taken a better part.
Some of them tried to fight the bitter end and the facility were flatten.
Alexander bought the miners out, and leaving the Kel-Morians in the dark.
Making a noose around the Kel-Morians as the communication is blacked out and the silence were nerve wracking.
They know the Imperium send the declaration of war, but they were unable to even contact their border fleets and garrisons.
It was already two months, now Moria is in revolt....
Mostly by the equity managers, stockholders and investors as the production was unable to meet quotas...
Line must go up after all, especially in a war...
To the eyes of these investors, war had nothing to do with them and they want their dividend now.
The guilds wracked their minds to make solutions, high taxes, shrinkflation, insurance price went up.
They wanted to sell their assets, but there was not a moron that wanting to touch the asset that may or may be captured or destroyed by the imperium.
The civilians were upset and even the mercenaries force that were recruited have not been paid. They were being discussed by imperial agents that were inserted in Moria to "buy" their loyalty.
The mercenaries knew the might of the Imperium, which faction have the might and clout to make a Mercenary guild for the galaxy to separate the legal mercenaries and those that is close to banditry and piracy?
A contract and a bloody thumbprint is signed.
By the time the Kel-Morian realized.
Two-thirds of the mercenaries joined the Imperium. Their actions brought down the generators of the planetary defense platforms.
The fleet of the imperium arrived and landed their forces on Moria.
The hail of Assault pods landed and captured the space port and elevator to the planet below.
They met the mercenaries that joined them, fighting for their lives to fight the Kel-Morian security forces.
The Kel-Morian were smart to limit the mercenaries to just a third of their local forces...
But problem is that their oversight, the mercenaries opened the gates of Moria.
And a army of ceramite and durasteel marched the streets of Moria.
Their march were like thunder, parents hidden themselves with their children as the giant men marched in shield formation, shield in their left hand, a gun to their right right.
Gauss bullets either deflected or turn to dust by the sheer speed of the bullets.
Behind the formation were vehicles were tanks by definition. Blasting rockets and auto cannons into the defender defensive formation.
For everyone of these supposed monster slained, that wasted ammunition, the seemingly looking corpse is teleported and replaced by a new one that taken up the slained formation. Unable to realize that these monstrosities they faced had two hearts...
Now the screams and flames spread across the capitol.
"What...have I done..." The leader of the Kel-Morians guilds watched as the city was in flames.
He just taken a undisclosed job offering by the Mobius foundation to just grabbed a technology during the Zerg rampage in the Imperium.
The money was good...
He offshore the offering to the pirate that his family employed.
And now, in returned, the planet is in flames.
And everyone is looking for the traitor that set the planet in flames.
Never realizing that their current elected guild master was the cause of the misery.
The city became in turmoil as the Zerg decided to have fun.
A strike force of Zerg landed in Moria, contesting the city in a three way struggle.
Whome one of them is faltering with their morale is on the losing end.
And one is bent on vengeance.
They sent a part of their forces to deal with the Zerg threat.
Now the civilians were in the crossfire.
But... They were given a choice to escape to the Imperium side. And warned if one of the soldiers is injured all of them is combatants.
Many flooded as they escape from the battlefield.
They knew the Kel-Morians is dying.
And those that remained were the investors that still demanded their equity...
If Alexander knew what happened, they have real balls...
The last of the Kel-Morians security surrendered and now the Zerg was dealt with full focus...
After turning the planet into a crater filled planet.
Alexander stepped in a room, where the guild master office is located and had a great view of the city, before him was the corpse whose hand held a exotic handgun limply fell as it happens a short time.
He sighed, the man didn't take responsibility in the end.
He unloaded a cord from his cyberdeck and now plugged into the deceased computer.
"Let's see here... Got it."
Before him was the offering that was signed.
It was fragmented.
"Hmm... Samuel...Duran... Narud." Alexander growled.
Seemed like Narud went behind Both Valerian and Acturus back. As it was unsanctioned. And Acturus already known that fighting the Imperium is death.
Valerian known the might of the Imperium...
"Scientist gone rogue..."
He noticed the 20" inch plasma tv that shown the situation in the Dominion.
The guild master god taste...
"This is Kate Howell from UNN, live from Tyrador VIII, the Zerg have now engaged our Dominion fleet, and we are having live scene
From the battlefield, back to you Donny."
Alexander remember one place...
Mobius Ai cores...
He remembers that Narud requested Raynor that the Mobius Ai Core is supposed to be destroyed, to deny the Kerrigan to get the location of the Xel naga artifact... But what happens if he get there before Raynor and Kerrigan does?
Currently judging from the battlefield, the Zerg was like blanketing the Dominion space to search for the artifacts...
And currently Kerrigan didn't know about the AI cores of the Mobius that is held in the besieged planet.
He contacted the Magos in his ship.
"Magos... Prepped the stealth ship and I will venture the battlefield alone."
What is in the facilities... Is up to him to uncover.
"Being a commando... Been a while.." he muttered.